News

If you have been captivated and mystified by the JonBenét Ramsey murder case for the past three decades, then a new Netflix documentary series will definitely have a place on your watch list in November 2024. The series will dive deep into one of the most infamous American cold cases.

According to Deadline, Netflix will release Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey on Monday, Nov. 25. The all-new documentary series contains three episodes and comes from director Joe Berlinger, who's known for his true crime documentaries and docuseries.

On Dec. 25, 1996, JonBenét's parents discovered that their daughter was missing. A ransom note was left in their home and the six year old's body was later found in the basement. The tragedy was ruled a homicide, but despite various leads throughout the years, the mystery has not been solved.

JonBenét Ramsey docuseries coming to Netflix in November 2024

In the brand new three-part docuseries, Berlinger...

Exclusive: John Billingsley (Manhunt) and Jeremy Bobb (Cabrini) are set for recurring roles opposite Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen in JonBenét Ramsey limited series at Paramount+.

In addition to Martindale and Owen, they join previously announced cast members Emily Mitchell, Garrett Hedlund, Alison Pill, Owen Teague, Clifton Collins Jr, Rory Cochrane, Chris Bauer, Angus Caldwell, Shea Whigham, Will Patton, Jaime Ray Newman, Josh Stamberg and Margo Martindale.

Exec produced by Richard Lagravenese (Behind the Candelabra), who serves as showrunner, JonBenét Ramsey explores the tragic unsolved murder of the six-year-old beauty queen of the same name. The show follows the Ramsey family, before and after the tragedy, as they go through the painful loss of a child, while facing intense public scrutiny caused by a media frenzy that caused this case to captivate an entire nation. At the heart of the series is the story of Patsy and John Ramsey – exploring...

Paramount+’s limited series about JonBenét Ramsey continues to attract a high-profile cast.

The latest addition to the show is three-time Emmy winner Margo Martindale (The Americans, Justified). She’ll recur as Nedra, the mother of Patsy Ramsey (Melissa McCarthy) and grandmother to JonBenét. The character is described as “tough, blunt, outspoken, and unafraid to speak her mind.”

McCarthy and Clive Owen star as Patsy and John Ramsey, JonBenét’s parents. The cast also includes Emily Mitchell as JonBenét, Garrett Hedlund, Alison Pill, Owen Teague, Clifton Collins Jr., Rory Cochrane, Chris Bauer, Angus Caldwell, Shea Whigham, Will Patton, Jaime Ray Newman and Josh Stamberg.

Production on the series is set to begin soon in Calgary. Richard Lagravenese (Unbroken, Behind the Candelabra) is the showrunner and is writing the series with Harrison Query and Tommy Wallach, who sold the project to producers MTV Entertainment Studios and 101 Studios. Anne Sewitsky (Presumed...

Margo Martindale has joined the Paramount+ series JonBenét Ramsey (w/t) in a guest role.

She will play Nedra, Patsy’s mother. Her character description says she is “tough, blunt, outspoken, and unafraid to speak her mind.”

She joins previously announced cast members Emily Mitchell, Garrett Hedlund, Alison Pill, Owen Teague, Clifton Collins Jr, Rory Cochrane, Chris Bauer, Angus Caldwell, Shea Whigham, Will Patton, Jaime Ray Newman, and Josh Stamberg.

Exec produced by Richard Lagravenese (Behind the Candelabra), who serves as showrunner, JonBenét Ramsey explores the tragic unsolved murder of the six-year-old beauty queen of the same name. The show follows the Ramsey family, before and after the tragedy, as they go through the painful loss of a child, while facing intense public scrutiny caused by a media frenzy that caused this case to captivate an entire nation. At the heart of the series is the story of Patsy and...

Margo Martindale has joined the cast of the upcoming JonBenét Ramsey limited series at Paramount+.

Martindale will appear in a guest star role alongside previously announced series leads Melissa McCarthy and Clive Owen as well as cast members Emily Mitchell, Garrett Hedlund, Alison Pill, Owen Teague, Clifton Collins Jr, Rory Cochrane, Chris Bauer, Angus Caldwell, Shea Whigham, Will Patton, Jaime Ray Newman, and Josh Stamberg.

Currently titled “JonBenét Ramsey,” the official description states the show “explores the tragic unsolved murder of six-year-old beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey (Mitchell). It follows the Ramsey family, before and after the tragedy as they go through the painful loss of a child while facing intense public scrutiny caused by a media frenzy that caused this case to captivate an entire nation. At the heart of the series, it is the story of Patsy (McCarthy) and John Ramsey (Owen) – exploring the unbreakable partnership of these two...

Hallmark+ isn’t waiting until Christmas to kick off Mistletoe Murders.

The six-episode holiday series, starring Sarah Drew (Grey’s Anatomy) and Peter Mooney (Burden of Truth, Rookie Blue), will premiere Thursday, Oct. 31 on the streaming service, our sister site Deadline reports.

More from TVLineDoctor Odyssey Trailer: John Stamos and Gina Gershon Among Newly Revealed Guest Stars in Joshua Jackson Medical DramaCharlie Hunnam to Star in Monster Season 3 as Serial Killer Ed GeinBridgerton Season 4 Adds Harry Potter's Katie Leung, Promotes 2 Others

Based on the Audible series of the same name (starring Cobie Smulders and Raymond Ablack), Mistletoe Murders follows follows Emily Lane (Drew), “the outwardly friendly,...

Now that Serena Williams‘ second daughter, Adira River Ohanian, has turned 1, the retired athlete has more time to socialize in Hollywood and beyond. The 42-year-old has flown to Paris for the Summer Olympics and attended the U.S. Open — with her bestie Alicia Keys — for the first time since she competed at Flushing Meadows herself in 2022. Fans can’t help but recognize that Williams is looking happier than ever, especially at a recent special event.

Serena Williams looks happy and healthy in Beverly Hills Oprah, Titus Kaphar, and Serena Williams on September 12, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California | Amy Sussman/Getty Images

On Sept. 12, Williams stepped out in Beverly Hills, California, to celebrate the LA premiere of Exhibiting Forgiveness. Laughing and snapping photos with multihyphenate Oprah Winfrey and director Titus Kaphar, she honored the drama’s special message.

Oprah, Titus Kaphar, and Serena Williams; Ruth E. Carter and Serena Williams at the...

Exclusive: Paramount+’s new original limited series JonBenét Ramsey (w/t) has cast Jaime Ray Newman and Josh Stamberg (Fleishman is in Trouble) in recurring roles.

They join previously announced cast members Emily Mitchell, Garrett Hedlund, Alison Pill, Owen Teague, Clifton Collins Jr, Rory Cochrane, Chris Bauer, Angus Caldwell, Shea Whigham and Will Patton.

Production will begin shortly in Calgary, Canada, with Richard Lagravenese serving as showrunner and executive producer. Four of the eight episodes, including the first, will be directed by Anne Sewitsky, who also executive produces.

JonBenét Ramsey explores the tragic unsolved murder of the eponymous six-year-old beauty queen (Mitchell). It follows the Ramsey family, before and after the tragedy as they go through the painful loss of a child while facing intense public scrutiny caused by a media frenzy that caused this case to captivate an entire nation. At the heart of the series,...

Is it possible that network television is so back? That's the immediate reaction to hearing CBS bought a new workplace comedy pilot starring Tim Meadows. Per Deadline, the sitcom is called Dmv, and Meadows "will play former high school English teacher Gregg, the examiner who likes to get through the driving tests,...

"How did we get into such a mess?" Madman in Australia is the first to reveal a trailer for this acclaimed film titled Tatami, which originally premiered at the 2023 Venice Film Festival last year. It received plenty of acclaim and excellent reviews from most critics. While there's still no US release date set, it has European release dates confirmed for later in 2024, after playing at the Göteborg Film Festival. Midway through the Judo World Championships, Iranian female judo fighter Leila and her coach Maryam receive an ultimatum from the Islamic Republic ordering Leila to fake an injury and lose, lest she be branded a traitor of the state. An intense political thriller described by one director as "a creative statement to the world as thousands of innocent Iranian people are paying with their lives for freedom." This stars Arienne Mandi, Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Jaime Ray Newman, and Ash Goldeh. It's...

Fantasy is the genre that we all love most as kids and then after growing up with it we kind of love immersing ourselves into a magical world filled with dragons and bands of heroes. While all fantasy shows are not as earnest and hopeful as they were during our childhood, they still provide us with an escape into a world filled with wonder. So, we thought of making a list of the best fantasy shows you can with your Prime Video subscription.

Merlin

Merlin is a British fantasy adventure series created by Julian Jones, Jake Michie, Johnny Capps, and Julian Murphy. Loosely based on the Arthurian Legends, the BBC One series follows the story of a young Merlin as he heads to Camelot to live with the court physician Gaius. Merlin has to hide the fact that he is a warlock because King Uther Pendragon outlawed magic in the Kingdom twenty years ago.

The Big Cigar is a biographical drama thriller miniseries created by Jim Hecht. Based on the 2012 Playboy article of the same name by Joshua Bearman, the Apple TV+ series is set in the 1970s and it follows the story of Black Panther party founder Huey P. Newton as he tries to escape from the FBI to Cuba with the help of film and TV producer Bert Schneider.

If you love historical figures and their stories, The Big Cigar is for you as we get an in-depth look at the life of Huey P. Newton. So, if you love the Apple TV+ biographical series here are all the release dates for its upcoming episodes.

The Big Cigar – Episode Guide (When Will The New Episodes Come Out?) Credit – Apple TV+

The Big Cigar consists of six episodes in total. The biographical drama miniseries premiered on Apple TV+ with its first two episodes...

Guy Nattiv’s “Harmonia” has cast Naomi Watts, Vicky Krieps, Bella Ramsey and Odessa Young as Embankment Films, Range Media Partners and CAA Media Finance launch pre-sales ahead of Cannes.

Inspired by a real-life events, the film is based on Nattiv’s grandmother and her involvement in an insidious cult.

The synopsis reads: “Set in the 1980s, Rita (Watts) is entranced by the mesmeric leader (Krieps) and renounces her family to embrace the world of the enigmatic Harmonia commune. Her daughters, Ella (Ramsey), and Jo (Young), put everything on the line to infiltrate the cult and bring their mother back home. Yet, once immersed in the commune, they find themselves inexorably drawn into the leader’s labyrinthine web of psycho-spiritual manipulation.”

Producers for the film are Julia Lebedev and Eddie Vaisman for Sight Unseen, Jaime Ray Newman for New Native Pictures, and Oren Moverman.

In a statement, Nattiv said, “I...

Exclusive: ‘Peaky Blinders’ and ‘Gangs of London’ star Joe Cole and ‘True Spirit’ and ‘Titans’ actor Teagan Croft have both just wrapped contemporary neo-noir thriller Override, the fourth feature from directing duo Natasha Merkulova and Alexey Chupov. It marks the English-language debut for the Russian helmers, whose Captain Volkonogov Escaped played in Venice’s Competition strand in 2021.

Paris-based sales and production outfit Charades has boarded international sales for title, which was shot in L.A. in March, while AC Independent and WME Independent will co-represent North American rights for the film. The project will be launched to buyers in Cannes next month.

Override, which is currently in post-production, follows Ron Camp (Cole), a 31-year-old taxi driver in L.A. and Becca (Croft), his 16-year-old passenger, as they are plunged into a modern-day nightmare. Unaware of Ron’s identity as a spree killer, Becca becomes entangled in a series of terrifying events.

Exclusive: In recurring roles, Karen Rodriguez (Swarm), Michael Aaron Milligan (Outer Banks) and Hunter Emery (Orange is the New Black) have been cast in the upcoming Starz drama The Hunting Wives. Production is currently underway in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Written by Rebecca Cutter based on the novel of the same name by May Cobb, The Hunting Wives tells the story of Sophie O’Neil (Brittany Snow) and her family’s move from the East Coast to deep East Texas, where she succumbs to socialite Margo Bank’s (Malin Åkerman) irresistible charms – and finds her life consumed by obsession, seduction and murder.

Dermot Mulroney, Evan Jonigkeit, Chrissy Metz, Jaime Ray Newman, Katie Lowes and George Ferrier also star. Rodriguez will play Sheriff’s Deputy Wanda Salazar, Milligan will play Kyle and Emery will play Deputy Walter Flynn.

Showrunner Cutter executive produces with Cobb and 3 Arts’ Erwin Stoff. The series is produced by...

This Is Us fans are still distraught over NBC pulling the plug on the award winning series.

But, they can catch fan fave Chrissy Metz on a new TV show, “The Hunting Wives,” but it’s nothing like her feel previous feel good role as Kate Pearson. Keep reading for all the details!

Starz’ new drama “The Hunting Wives” is based on the book by May Cobb of the same name. The series will follow a group of women in Texas, and be packed full of soapy drama.

Per an official report from TV Line, “The Hunting Wives tells the story of Sophie (played by Brittany Snow) and her family’s move from the East Coast to deep East Texas, where she succumbs to socialite Margo Bank’s (Åkerman) irresistible charms — and in turn finds her life consumed by obsession, seduction, and murrrrrderrrrr.”

Chrissy Metz – Gets A New Role

This Is Us...

The Hunting Wives has added four to its cast as production on the upcoming Starz series begins in North Carolina. Chrissy Metz (This Is Us), Jaime Ray Newman (Dopesick), Katie Lowes (Scandal), and George Ferrier (One of Us Is Lying) are joining the previously announced Dermot Mulroney, Evan Jonigkeit, Malin Akerman, and Brittany Snow in the upcoming thriller.

Based on the novel by May Cobb, The Hunting Wives series follows Sophie O’Neill (Snow) after she moves to Texas and succumbs to a socialite’s charms.

Read More…...

Chrissy Metz (in her first post-This Is Us TV role), Katie Lowes (Scandal), Jaime Ray Newman (Eastwick) and George Ferrier (One of Us Is Lying) all have joined the upcoming Starz drama The Hunting Wives, as series regulars.

They join a cast that already includes Malin Åkerman, Brittany Snow, Dermot Mulroney and Evan Jonigkeit.

More from TVLineTVLine Items: Snyder's Rebel Moon Part 2 Trailer, Rhoa Exit and MoreThe Good Doctor: Two Former Stars Set to Return Ahead of Series FinaleExclusive S.W.A.T. Sneak Peek: Luca Is Back! But What Has Him Concerned?

Based on the novel of the same name by May Cobb,...

The upcoming Starz series “The Hunting Wives” has added four new series regulars to its cast.

Chrissy Metz, Jaime Ray Newman, Katie Lowes and George Ferrier have all joined the series, alongside previously announced cast members Malin Åkerman, Brittany Snow, Dermot Mulroney and Evan Jonigkeit.

The official description for “The Hunting Wives” reveals that the drama series “tells the story of Sophie (Snow) and her family’s move from the East Coast to deep East Texas, where she succumbs to socialite Margo Bank’s (Akerman) irresistible charms – and finds her life consumed by obsession, seduction, and murder.”

The series is based on the novel by May Cobb, who serves as an executive producer. Production recently began in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Metz joins the series in the role of Starr, described as “the mother of Abby, a proud working-class woman and staunch Christian. Although she’s active at church and her...

Chrissy Metz (This Is Us), Jaime Ray Newman (Dopesick), Katie Lowes (Scandal), and George Ferrier (One of Us Is Lying) have been cast as series regulars in Starz’s upcoming drama series The Hunting Wives, alongside previously announced Malin Åkerman, Brittany Snow, Dermot Mulroney, and Evan Jonigkeit. Production is underway in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Written by Rebecca Cutter based on May Cobb’s novel of the same name, The Hunting Wives tells the story of Sophie O’Neil (Snow) and her family’s move from the East Coast to deep East Texas, where she succumbs to socialite Margo Bank’s (Åkerman) irresistible charms – and finds her life consumed by obsession, seduction and murder.

Metz plays Starr. Abby’s mother, a proud working-class woman and staunch Christian. Although she’s active at church and her daughter dates the star point guard Brad, she is not welcomed in the high-society world of the Hunting Wives.

Starz is adding to the cast of its forthcoming thriller The Hunting Wives.

Chrissy Metz, Jaime Ray Newman, Katie Lowes and George Ferrier have joined the ensemble for the drama series, based on May Cobb’s novel. The cast for the series from Lionsgate Television and 3 Arts Entertainment also includes Malin Akerman, Brittany Snow, Dermot Mulroney, and Evan Jonigkeit.

The Hunting Wives, which has started production in Charlotte, North Carolina, follows Sophie O’Neill (Snow), who moves with her family from the East Coast to deep East Texas, where she succumbs to socialite Margo Bank’s (Akerman) irresistible charms — and finds her life consumed by obsession, seduction, and murder.

This Is Us star Metz will play Starr, a proud working-class woman who’s active in her church and whose daughter, Abby, is dating the star point guard Brad (Ferrier, Netflix’s Sweet Tooth), but who isn’t welcome in the...

Tatami, the groundbreaking Iranian drama co-directed by Oscar winner Guy Nattiv (Golda) and Cannes best actress winner Zar Amir Ebrahimi, has been picked up by XYZ Films for North America, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

Based on real-life stories, the Farsi-language drama sees Arienne Mandi play Leila, an Iranian female judo athlete who travels to a world championship with her coach, played by Ebrahimi. Midway through the competition, they receive an ultimatum from the Islamic Republic ordering Leila to fake an injury and lose, or she will be branded a traitor of the state.

With her own freedom as well as her family’s at stake, she’s faced with an impossible choice: comply with the Iranian regime as her coach implores her to do, or fight on for the gold.

Tatami is the first feature film to have Iranian and Israeli filmmakers as co-directors. Nattiv directed the 2023 film Golda,...

“Tatami,” the Iranian drama from co-directors Guy Nattiv and Zar Amir, has been picked up by XYZ Films for North America, where both lip-synched English and original language versions will be released later this year.

The feature, which bowed in Venice 2023 where it won the Brian Award, made history by becoming the first film to be jointly directed by an Iranian and an Israeli filmmaker.

Starring Arienne Mandi, Amir, Jaime Ray Newman and Ash Goldeh, and written by Nattiv — an Oscar winner for his short film “Skin” — and Elham Erfani, “Tatami” is set during the Judo World Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia. Midway through the competition, Iranian female judo fighter Leila (Mandi) and her coach Maryam (Amir ) receive an ultimatum from the Islamic Republic ordering Leila to fake an injury and lose, lest she be branded a traitor of the state. With her own and her family’s freedom at stake,...

“Your heavenly Father will forgive you if you forgive those who sin against you; but if you refuse to forgive them, he will not forgive you.” This gospel of Matthew is the thematic crux of Titus Kaphar’s feature debut Exhibiting Forgiveness, a nakedly emotional, overwrought, schematic tale of how the artistic process converges with the unexpected return of past trauma. Led by André Holland in an impressively anguished performance, the ensemble elevates a script that has its heart in the right place but feels lacking in layers of complexity that we see from the art on display.

Tarrell (Holland) is an accomplished painter working from a studio in his comfortably-adorned home, balancing his work within a family of artists. His wife Aisha (Andra Day) is a musician, requiring coordination of scheduling their creative pursuits, as they are also raising their young son Tre (Daniel Michael Barriere). Coming off a...

The 40th Sundance Film Festival kicks off Thursday in snow-covered Park City, Utah. In the wake of twin strikes and an indie biz still recovering from the Covid pandemic, it’s difficult to read how hungry buyers are for films that are mostly light on starpower and an overtly commercial premise.

For instance, the buzziest title seems to be Love Me, because it stars Kristen Stewart and freshly minted Emmy-winning Beef star Steven Yeun. But it is a completely execution-dependent premise — long after humanity’s extinction, a buoy and a satellite meet online and fall in love. Two fine actors, but neither is a giant theatrical So there could be competition for this one, but buyers will be coming in cold and, as one veteran fest buyer said, “it’s like every other movie here. Let’s see what you got.”

One wrinkle in the continuing tectonic shifts in the...

Exclusive: Academy Award-winning filmmaker Adam McKay and Kevin Messick, his producing partner at HyperObject Industries, have come aboard the Oscar-shortlisted animated short Wild Summon as executive producers. Joining them are Guy Nattiv and Jaime Ray Newman of New Native Pictures, who won an Oscar for their 2019 live-action short Skin and went on to adapt it into a feature starring Jamie Bell.

An eco-film also recently longlisted for the BAFTA Film Awards, Wild Summon hails from filmmakers Karni Arieli and Saul Freed and their independent animation studio Sulkybunny. The film narrated by Marianne Faithful blends elements of natural history and fantasy to follow the dramatic life cycle of the wild salmon in human form. It world premiered at last year’s Cannes Film Festival and was produced with support from the British Film Institute, which awarded National Lottery funding.

When Messick, McKay and the HyperObject Industries team caught Wild Summon at Cannes,...

No hostage left behind.

So many of your favorite stars have come together to thank President Biden for his efforts in working to peace amid the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Amid the news that two American hostages and two Israeli hostages have been released from captivity, Hollywood heavyweights are hoping for the safe return of the 220 innocent people who are still being held hostage by Hamas.

“We are heartened by Friday’s release of the two American hostages, Judith Ranaan and her daughter Natalie Ranaan and by today’s release of two Israelis, Nurit Cooper and Yocheved Lifshitz, whose husbands remain in captivity,” the letter read.

The letter continued, “But our relief is tempered by our overwhelming concern that 220 innocent people, including 30 children, remain captive by terrorists, threatened with torture and death. They were taken by Hamas in the savage massacre of October 7, where over 1,400 Israelis were slaughtered – women raped, families burned alive,...

At a moment of war and deep division in the Middle East, a film co-directed by an Israeli and an Iranian is already a victory in and of itself. But the gripping sports drama Tatami, which follows a female judo champ whose career is severely jeopardized by Iran’s government during an international tournament, is more than just a promising collaboration between two filmmakers hailing from opposing sides of the conflict.

Set during one nail-biting day at the world championship in Tbilisi, Tatami — whose title refers to the mat where judoka fighters engage in combat — is both a riveting story of an athlete trying to achieve gold for the first time, and a searing political thriller where Iranian women are subjected to persecution, intimidation and possibly kidnapping at the hands of their country’s far-reaching authoritarian regime. Vibrantly helmed and performed, with co-director and Cannes best actress winner Zar Amir Ebrahimi...

“God, it’s fucking crazy,” Guy Nattiv said with exasperation when we connected by phone this week, in the aftermath of the Hamas attack on Israel that has resulted in the deaths and hostage-taking of hundreds of Israelis. “This is a holocaust.”

Nattiv, the first Israeli filmmaker to ever win an Oscar — he won best live action short for 2018’s Skin — and the director of the 2023 film Golda, which chronicles Golda Meir’s response to the 1973 surprise attack on Israel that resulted in the Yom Kippur War, has lived in the United States for the past decade, since he met the woman who would become his wife, the actress-filmmaker Jaime Ray Newman. But he remains deeply connected to Israel, where many of his family members and friends still reside. And when Hamas attacked Israel last week, he instinctively decided that he should use his Instagram platform as a “shofar” — a horn,...

Tatami, the groundbreaking Iranian drama co-directed by Oscar-winner Guy Nattiv (Golda, Skin) and Cannes best actress winner Zar Amir Ebrahimi (Shayda, Holy Spider), has landed a number of major international territory deals following its premiere at the Venice Film Festival.

WestEnd Films has closed sales on the feature — the first to be co-directed by an Iranian and an Israeli filmmaker — for Italy (Bim Distribuzione), France (Metropolitan), Portugal (Nos), Benelux (Cineart), Greece (Cinobo), Scandinavia (Mislabel), Spain (Vertigo), Germany and Switzerland (Wild Bunch), and Israel (United King). Discussions are undergoing for North America, the U.K. and all remaining territories. Range are co-repping North America with Westend.

Based on real-life stories, Tatami follows Iranian female judokas Leila (Arienne Mandi) and her coach Maryam (Ebrahimi), who travel to the Judo World Championship intent on bringing home Iran’s first gold medal. Midway through the competition, they receive an ultimatum from the Islamic Republic...

Stars: Anson Mount, Jason Patric, Jaime Ray Newman, Jen Richards, Alon Aboutboul, Jared Bankens, David Jensen, Matt Nolan, Harrison Stone | Written and Directed by Joseph Sorrentino

I’ve always been interested and super curious about the whole Mk Ultra CIA Human Experiment story and have often found myself reading articles, listening to podcasts or watching the odd rare documentary diving into what is and is not known about the highly illegal but absolutely fascinating events. So a dramatisation of one man’s involvement was sure to get my juices flowing.

There was also an added interesting factor to Mk Ultra with the director being from an intelligence background. This may not make much difference in terms of a factual nature (although it couldn’t hurt) but you have to imagine it would make a difference in terms of aesthetic and the procedural nature of the story as we take an all too real,...

“Holy Spider” breakout Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Guy Nattiv are set to make history with “Tatami,” the first feature co-directed by an Iranian and an Israeli filmmaker.

Premiering in Venice Film Festival’s Horizons section, “Tatami” shows Iranian female judo fighter Leila (played by “The L Word: Generation Q” star Arienne Mandi) heading to the world championships with her coach Maryam (Ebrahimi). Soon, they receive an ultimatum: in order to avoid squaring off against an Israeli opponent, Leila should immediately fake an injury and drop out.

“Can you imagine how many threats I have received after ‘Holy Spider,’ accusing me of ‘working with Jews’? We are not even allowed to call someone Israeli. It’s always ‘the occupying regime,’” Ebrahimi says.

Fearing for their safety, they decided to shoot in secret.

“We didn’t want anyone to know about it. We shot in Tbilisi in Georgia, two hours away from...

HollyShorts Film Festival, the Oscar-qualifying celebration of short films, has announced the jury lineup for its 2023 edition.

The 18-person jury includes Chiwetel Ejiofor (“12 Years a Slave”), Sam Worthington (“Avatar”), Zoey Deutch (“Not Okay”), Alexandra Shipp (“Barbie”), Josh Whitehouse (“Daisy Jones & the Six”), Christina Chong (“Star Trek: Strange New Worlds”), Nelu Handa (“Run the Burbs” showrunner) and Jaime Ray Newman (“Skin”). Variety international correspondent K.J. Yossman and Eric Kohn, executive editor and chief critic of IndieWire, will also serve on the jury.

Other industry professionals on the jury include Tom Berkeley and Ross White, whose film “An Irish Goodbye” won last year’s Oscar for best live-action short film; Aneil Kara, whose film “The Long Goodbye” won the Oscar in 2022; as well as short film Oscar nominees Pamela Ribon (“My Year of Dicks”) and Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby (“The Flying Sailor”). Two-time Oscar winner Joanna Quinn (“Affairs of...

WestEnd Films and Keshet Studios have unveiled a first look at “Golda” director Guy Nattiv and “Holy Spider” star Zar Amir-Ebrahimi’s political thriller “Judo.”

The image, which features Amir-Ebrahimi (left) and Arienne Mandi (right), follows an Iranian female judoka and her coach as they face life-changing decisions during the Judo World Championships.

“Judo” (working title) is co-directed by Nattiv and Amir-Ebrahimi. It is co-written by Nattiv and Elham Erfani (“The Case of Sacrifice”). The project is the first feature film to be co-directed by an Iranian and an Israeli filmmaker, during a time when the Iranian government still criminalizes any contact with Israelis, and state violence against women is amplified.

Other cast members include Jaime Ray Newman (“Dopesick”), Nadine Marshall (“The Silent Twin”), Mehdi Bajestani (“Holy Spider”), Lirr Katz and Ash Goldeh.

Here’s an official synopsis for the project: “Judo” is a thrilling portrait of Iranian female judoka...

Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach have launched movie fans into excitement with the latest trailer for their new movie, “Barbie.” Gerwig directs the project and she also co-wrote the script with her partner Baumbach. Previously, both scored Oscar nominations in the same year for their work on “Little Women” (Adapted Screenplay for Gerwig) and “Marriage Story” (Original Screenplay for Baumbach). With “Barbie,” the pair of filmmakers could become the first couple to win an Oscar for the same feature film since 2018.

Gerwig and Baumbach would be up for Best Original Screenplay together, while Gerwig could also be up for Best Director, and both could be up for Best Picture (as producers). If they were to win together, they’d become the 19th couple to take home a pair of Oscars for the same movie.

They’d join these 18 joint champs:

Muriel Box and Sydney Box for Best Original Screenplay (1947) — “The Seventh Veil...

Skin is a subject Israeli-American director Guy Nattiv touches on frequently in his work. He has directed no fewer than two (unrelated) films titled “Skin,” one feature-length, one short. The former, which premiered in Toronto in 2018, saw Jamie Bell win rave reviews as a white supremacist who tortuously has his tattoos lasered off after managing to break away from the Neo-Nazi cult that raised him. The latter, which Nattiv produced alongside his wife, Jaime Ray Newman, won the Oscar for live action short in 2019.

Now Nattiv returns with “Golda,” his first feature since Toronto and another character study, this time of Israel’s fourth prime minister, Golda Meir, who is played by Helen Mirren. The film, which also stars Liev Schreiber and Camille Cottin, is set during the 1973 Yom Kippur war, when a coalition of Arab states launched a surprise attack on Israel on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Ebrahimi also stars in the film as the coach to an Iranian female judoka.

London-based WestEnd Films has acquired international rights to political thriller Untitled Judo which is co-directed by Holy Spider star Zar Amir Ebrahimi and Golda director Guy Nattiv. WestEnd is launching sales at EFM.

Ebrahimi also stars in the film as the coach to an Iranian female judoka who is ordered by the Islamic Republic to fake an injury and lose at the Judo World Championships. The rest of the cast includes Arienne Mandi, Jaime Ray Newman, Nadine Marshall and fellow Holy Spider star Mehdi Bajestani.

Untitled...

WestEnd Films has acquired worldwide rights to Keshet Studios’ political thriller “Untitled Judo” and will introduce it to buyers at Berlin’s European Film Market (EFM).

The film, currently in post-production, is co-directed by Guy Nattiv (Oscar winner for short “Skin”) and Zar Amir Ebrahimi, Cannes best actress winner for “Holy Spider,” and co-written by Elham Erfani (“The Case of Sacrifice”).

It features Arienne Mandi (“The L Word: Generation Q”) and Amir Ebrahimi in the lead roles, alongside Jaime Ray Newman (“Dopesick”), Nadine Marshall (“The Silent Twins”) and Mehdi Bajestani (“Holy Spider”).

The film follows Iranian female judoka Leila (Mandi) and her coach Maryam (Ebrahimi), who travel to the Judo World Championship, intent on bringing home Iran’s first gold medal. Midway through the competition, they receive an ultimatum from the Islamic Republic ordering Leila to fake an injury and lose. With her own and her family’s freedom at stake,...

Guy Nattiv and Zar Amir Ebrahimi are to make history by becoming the first Israeli and Iranian filmmakers to co-direct a feature.

Unveiled at a time when the Iranian government still criminalizes any contact with Israelis and state violence against women is amplified, political thriller Untitled Judo is a collaboration aimed at shining a spotlight on the regime currently governing Iran.

The film — backed by Israel’s Keshat Studios and launched in Berlin by WestEnd Films, which has worldwide rights — follows an Iranian female judoka and her coach as they face life-changing decisions during the Judo World Championships. Nattiv — already in Berlin with his Helen Mirren-starring Golda Meir biopic Golda — will co-direct Untitled Judo alongside Holy Spider lead actress Ebrahimi (who will also star) from a script co-written by Elham Erfani.

Untitled Judo is a portrait of Iranian female judoka Leila (played by The L Word: Generation Q‘s Arienne Mandi...

WestEnd Films has acquired world rights to Untitled Judo, a political thriller co-directed by Guy Nattiv and actress Zar Amir Ebrahimi (Holy Spider).

The film is currently in post-production. WestEnd Films will launch sales at this year’s European Film Market.

The pic is the first feature film to be co-directed by an Iranian and an Israeli filmmaker and follows an Iranian female judoka and her coach as they face life-changing decisions during the Judo World Championships. Elham Erfani (The Case of Sacrifice) is a co-writer on the project.

Arienne Mandi (The L Word: Generation Q) and co-director Zar Amir Ebrahimi star in the lead roles, alongside Jaime Ray Newman, Nadine Marshall and Mehdi Bajestani (Holy Spider).

The full synopsis reads: Untitled Judo is a thrilling portrait of Iranian female judoka Leila (Mandi) and her coach Maryam (Ebrahimi), who...

Jemima Khan (“What’s Love Got to Do With It?”) and Jaime Ray Newman (“Dopesick”) have boarded Seemab Gul’s Oscar-qualifying short film “Sandstorm” as executive producers.

A coming of age story, centering around a Pakistani schoolgirl called Zara, “Sandstorm” navigates the “tricky terrain of internet dating in a conservative Muslim society,” according to the logline as well as questions “the objectification of the female body and its relationship to honor in Pakistani culture.”

In the short, Zara sends her virtual boyfriend a “sensual dance video” which he then uses to blackmail her. “Caught between his manipulative behaviour and the desire to experience love on her own terms, Zara searches for the strength to reject the confines of a patriarchal society,” reads the synopsis.

The short snagged top awards at Rhode Island and HollyShorts Film Festivals.

The film is written, directed and co-produced by Gul, a Pakistani artist and filmmaker based...

Abubakr Ali, the titular star of the recently canceled Netflix series Grendel, is speaking out about the show’s cancellation and what it means for Muslim representation on the screen.

In Grendel, Ali became the first Arab Muslim male actor to portray a series lead in a comic book adaptation. Earlier this week, Netflix revealed it would not be moving forward with the series. The decision was made after Grendel had done the bulk of its filming but the series was not finished, so there is currently a partial eight-episode season in the can. Producers have the option to shop the series.

In a post on Instagram, Ali noted that “Despite making up 24 percent of the world’s population, Muslim actors only make up 1 of speaking characters on TV.”

“I was really excited for what this role meant to my community,” he continued. “I never thought this business would allow...

Netflix’s decision to scrap its Grendel comic book adaptation after all eight episodes were shot is not sitting well with one of the show’s stars.

“Hundreds of talented, tireless, wonderful people shot not just a pilot, not just a few episodes, but an entire season that now might go unseen,” Flash alum Andy Mientus (aka Grendel’s Larry Stohler) lamented Wednesday on Instagram. “I’m used to shows closing or getting cancelled, but only after they at least get to meet the world, their fate decided (mostly) by their audience. What’s happened here is a new one for me,...

Netflix has grounded its adaptation of the Dark Horse Comic book Grendel.

Deadline revealed the news Tuesday, stating that the show had been in production and that plenty of scenes had been filmed.

Based on Matt Wagner's groundbreaking comic book series, Grendel follows Hunter Rose, a gifted fencer, writer and assassin as, seeking to avenge the death of a lost love, he goes to war with New York's criminal underworld, only to realize...why beat them, when you can join them?

That was the logline shared when the series got a formal pickup a year ago.

Deadline notes that producers plan to shop the series around, but there's no telling what paved the way for the cancellation.

The cast of the project was to include Abubakr Ali as the titular “Grendel”/“Hunter Rose.”

The cast also included Jaime Ray Newman as Jocasta Rose, and Julian Black Antelope as Argent,...

“Grendel” is no longer happening at Netflix, Variety has confirmed.

Based on Matt Wagner’s popular comic books, the series (which had an eight episode order) follows Hunter Rose, a fencer, writer and assassin who fights organized crime in New York to avenge the death of a lost love, until he ends up taking over the crime scene himself. It was originally picked up at Netflix in September 2021.

Producers now have the option to auction the project elsewhere. No further information has been released.

Abubakr Ali is set to play the show’s titular role. Ali is known for playing Sebastian ‘Bash’ Kamal-Stern in “Power Book II: Ghost.” His other credits include playing Raj Patel in “Katy Keene” and a leading role in “What If?,” the upcoming feature from Orion Pictures and Killer Films directed by Billy Porter.

Also among the cast is Jaime Ray Newman as Jocasta Rose, Julian Black Antelope as Argent,...

Fans looking forward to Netflix’s Grendel series will be disappointed to learn that the adaptation of the Dark Horse Entertainment property is not moving forward. The Grendel series, led by Abubakr Ali, initially received an eight-episode order as a part of Netflix’s first look deal with the publisher. Thankfully, Grendel could have the chance to be sold to another platform. If another outlet picks up the show, Ali will be the first Arab Muslim male actor to portray a series lead in a comic book adaptation.

Resident Evil and Supernatural alum Andrew Dabb wrote the Grendel series in addition to serving as showrunner and executive producer. According to Deadline, Grendel follows Hunter Rose (Ali), a gifted fencer, writer, and assassin, seeking to avenge the death of a lost love. He goes to war with New York’s criminal underworld, only to realize…why beat them, when you can join them?...

Netflix has nixed its Grendel comic book adaptation, one year after granting it an eight-episode series order.

Hailing from Supernatural co-showrunner Andrew Dabb and starring Abubakr Ali (Katy Keene) as the masked vigilante from the award-winning Matt Wagner/Dark Horse comic books, the series was to follow Hunter Rose, a gifted fencer, writer and assassin who, in seeking to avenge the death of a lost love, goes to war with New York’s criminal underworld. Except then he realizes, “Why beat them, when you can join them?”

More from TVLineGrendel Star Expresses 'Shock' in Wake of Cancellation at Netflix: 'An...

Netflix will not be going forward with Grendel, a series based on the masked vigilante from Matt Wagner’s popular, award-winning Dark Horse comic book series, which had an eight-episode order. Abubakr Ali stars in the titular role, the first Arab Muslim male actor to portray a series lead in a comic book adaptation. The series, written and executive produced by Resident Evil and Supernatural alum Andrew Dabb, comes out of Netflix’s first look deal with Dark Horse Entertainment.

The producers now have the option to shop the series elsewhere.

Also previously cast in the series were Jaime Ray Newman, Julian Black Antelope, Madeline Zima, Kevin Corrigan, Emma Ho, Erik Palladino, Brittany Allen and Andy Mientus. The decision was made after Grendel had done the bulk of its filming but the series was not finished, so there is currently a partial eight-episode season in the can.

Grendel, which has Dabb also serve as showrunner,...

Exclusive: Apple TV+’s Huey P. Newton series The Big Cigar has rounded out its cast, with Jaime Ray Newman (Dopesick), Noah Emmerich (Dark Winds), John Doman (City on a Hill), Chris Brochu (Zero Contact) and newcomer Brenton Allen coming aboard in recurring roles. André Holland leads the cast, with Alessandro Nivola, Tiffany Boone, Pj Byrne, Marc Menchaca, Jordane Christie, Moses Ingram, Olli Haaskivi and Glynn Turman also set to star, as previously announced.

The six-episode limited series, based on the eponymous Playboy magazine article by Argo‘s Joshuah Bearman, tells the extraordinary, hilarious, almost-too-good-to-be-true story of how Black Panther leader Newton (Holland) relied on his best friend, Bert Schneider (Nivola) — the Hollywood producer behind Easy Rider — to elude a nationwide manhunt and escape to Cuba while being pursued into exile by the FBI.

Newman will play Roz Torrance, with Emmerich as Schneider’s brother Stanley, and Doman as his father Abe.

"Are you ready to begin?" Cinedigm has revealed an official trailer for an intriguing psychological thriller titled Mk Ultra, from filmmaker Joseph Sorrentino. This is a superbly on-the-nose title for a film that is based around and set in the time of the Mk Ultra experiments in the 60s, but that's how they have to sell films these days. Based on the infamous CIA drug experiments, this psychological thriller follows a brilliant psychiatrist, played by Anson Mount, who unknowingly becomes entangled with a dangerous government entity fixated on mind control using psychedelic substances. This thriller exposes the experiments the US conducted on its own citizens. Mk Ultra also stars Jaime Ray Newman, Alon Aboutboul, and David Jensen. It's amusing that they turned the Mk Ultra tests into fodder for an intense thriller, I don't think it ever got this crazy. Or… did it? "Politics and science make the worst of friends,...